Brutus – English Lyrics

• By: Em Beihold

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw and relatable world of Em Beihold's "Brutus," a pop song that fearlessly tackles the complex emotions of jealousy and self-comparison. Through its clever lyrics and catchy melodies, you can learn how to express nuanced feelings in English, particularly those tied to admiration mixed with envy, and appreciate the creative use of historical metaphors in contemporary songwriting.

[English]

♪ BA DA DA DA DA ♪

♪ BA DA DA DA ♪

♪ BA DA DA DA DA ♪

♪ BA DA DA ♪

♪ YOU’RE INTERESTING ♪

♪ YOU’RE DIFFERENT ♪

♪ OH YOU’RE NEAT ♪

♪ YOU GOT PEOPLE LINING UP ♪

♪ TO KISS YOUR FEET ♪

♪ YOU’RE THE TALK OF EVERY TOWN ♪

♪ THEY CAN’T KEEP QUIET ♪

♪ YOU’RE AN OBSESSIVE REVOLUTIONARY RIOT ♪

♪ I WISH THAT I COULD SAY ♪

♪ THAT I’M NOT THE JEALOUS TYPE ♪

♪ BUT YOU’RE CAESAR AND I’M BRUTUS ♪

♪ MINUS THAT PART WITH THE KNIFE ♪

♪ AND I WISH YOU THE BEST ♪

♪ WHILE I’M WATCHING FROM THE SIDE ♪

♪ BUT IF I’M SPEAKING HONESTLY ♪

♪ I WISH I HAD YOUR LIFE ♪

♪ OH IF I’M SPEAKING HONESTLY ♪

♪ I WISH I HAD YOUR LIFE ♪

♪ BA DA DA DA DA ♪

♪ BA DA DA DA ♪

♪ BA DA DA DA DA ♪

♪ BA DA DA ♪

♪ YOU’RE SUCH A STAR ♪

♪ NEVER TO BE FORGOT ♪

♪ I DON’T KNOW IF YOU ARE EVER SAD ♪

♪ BUT I IMAGINE NOT ♪

♪ AND MAYBE I’M JUST WATERING YOUR LAWN ♪

♪ MAKING YOUR GRASS GREENER ♪

♪ AND YOU’RE EGO SUPER STRONG ♪

♪ I WISH THAT I COULD SAY ♪

♪ THAT I’M NOT THE JEALOUS TYPE ♪

♪ BUT YOU’RE CAESAR AND I’M BRUTUS ♪

♪ MINUS THAT PART WITH THE KNIFE ♪

♪ AND I WISH YOU THE BEST ♪

♪ WHILE I’M WATCHING FROM THE SIDE ♪

♪ BUT IF I’M SPEAKING HONESTLY ♪

♪ I WISH I HAD YOUR LIFE ♪

♪ BUT IF I’M SPEAKING HONESTLY ♪

♪ I WISH I HAD YOUR LIFE ♪

♪ OH WISHING YOU THE WORST ♪

♪ HAS NEVER REALLY WORKED ♪

♪ MY MIND IS FULL OF HATE AND GREED ♪

♪ BUT SOMETIMES IN THE DARK ♪

♪ I LISTEN TO MY HEART ♪

♪ AND THINK IF YOU’RE GONE ♪

♪ I COULD MOVE ON ♪

♪ FINALLY FIND INNER PEACE ♪ [HOLDING NOTE]

[VOCALIZING]

♪ I WISH THAT I COULD SAY ♪

♪ THAT I’M NOT THE JEALOUS TYPE ♪

♪ BUT YOU’RE CAESAR AND I’M BRUTUS ♪

♪ MINUS THAT PART WITH THE KNIFE ♪

♪ AND I WISH YOU THE BEST ♪

♪ WHILE I’M WATCHING FROM THE SIDE ♪

♪ BUT IF I’M SPEAKING HONESTLY ♪

♪ I WISH I HAD YOUR LIFE ♪

♪ OH IF I’M SPEAKING HONESTLY ♪

♪ I WISH I HAD YOUR LIFE ♪

♪ [WHISPERED] IF I’M SPEAKING HONESTLY I WISH I HAD YOUR LIFE ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wish /wɪʃ/ A2	verb - to want something to happen or to be true, even if it is unlikely. noun - a desire or hope for something.
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death. noun - the existence of an individual human being or animal.
jealous /ˈdʒɛləs/ B1	adjective - feeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages. adjective - fiercely protective of one's rights or possessions.
honest /ˈɒnɪst/ B1	adjective - truthful and sincere. adjective - fair and straightforward in conduct.
Brutus /ˈbruːtəs/ C1	noun - Marcus Junius Brutus, a Roman senator famous for his role in the assassination of Julius Caesar. (In this song, it represents someone betraying a powerful figure out of envy or perceived necessity).
Caesar /ˈsiːzər/ C1	noun - Julius Caesar, a Roman general and statesman. (In this song, it represents a powerful, admired, almost tyrannical figure).
knife /naɪf/ A2	noun - a cutting tool or weapon with a blade and a handle.
riot /ˈraɪət/ B2	noun - a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd.
obsessive /əbˈsɛsɪv/ B2	adjective - relating to or characterized by obsession. (Often implying an excessive preoccupation).
revolutionary /ˌrɛvəˈluːʃənəri/ B2	adjective - involving or causing a complete or dramatic change. noun - a person who advocates or engages in political or social revolution.
greed /ɡriːd/ B1	noun - intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.
hate /heɪt/ A2	verb - feel intense dislike or aversion for (someone or something). noun - intense dislike or ill will.
peace /piːs/ A2	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility. noun - a state or period in which there is no war or fighting.
star /stɑːr/ A1	noun - a natural luminous body visible in the night sky. noun - a famous or exceptionally talented entertainer or sports player.
ego /ˈiːɡəʊ/ B2	noun - a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance.
grass /ɡræs/ A1	noun - widespread green plant with blade-like leaves, often covering fields and lawns.
greener /ˈɡriːnər/ A2	adjective - having a colour intermediate between blue and yellow in the spectrum; the colour of grass or leaves. (comparative form, implying 'more green'). Used in 'the grass is greener on the other side' idiom.
different /ˈdɪfrənt/ A1	adjective - not the same as another or each other; unlike in nature, form, or quality.
quiet /ˈkwaɪət/ A1	adjective - making little or no noise. adjective - characterized by an absence or near absence of noise; silent.
talk /tɔːk/ A1	noun - a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing. noun - rumour or gossip.

Key Grammar Structures

• YOU GOT PEOPLE LINING UP

  ➔ Informal use of "got" for "have"; Present Participle as a complement

  ➔ "got" is used informally here instead of "have" to mean possession or a state. ""lining up"" is a present participle describing the ongoing action of the "people".

• I WISH THAT I COULD SAY

  ➔ "Wish" clause (unreal present/future ability with "could")

  ➔ The structure "I wish + subject + ""could"" + base verb" expresses a desire for an ability or possibility that is currently not real or is difficult to achieve.

• I WISH I HAD YOUR LIFE

  ➔ "Wish" clause (unreal present situation with past simple)

  ➔ The structure "I wish + subject + ""past simple verb""" expresses a desire for a current situation to be different, acknowledging it's not real.

• WHILE I’M WATCHING FROM THE SIDE

  ➔ Conjunction "while" for simultaneous actions; Present Continuous

  ➔ ""While"" is a conjunction used to show that two actions are happening at the same time. The ""Present Continuous"" ("I'm watching") describes an ongoing action.

• BUT IF I’M SPEAKING HONESTLY

  ➔ Conditional Type 1 with Present Continuous in the 'if' clause

  ➔ This is a Type 1 conditional where the 'if' clause uses the ""Present Continuous"" to describe an ongoing action or condition that leads to a specific result or comment. It implies that "while I am speaking honestly, this is true."

• NEVER TO BE FORGOT

  ➔ Passive Infinitive (to be + past participle)

  ➔ The structure ""to be + past participle"" (e.g., "to be forgotten") is a passive infinitive. It means the subject receives the action. Although the lyric uses "forgot" (incorrectly instead of "forgotten"), the intended passive infinitive structure is clear.

• MAKING YOUR GRASS GREENER

  ➔ Present Participle (-ing form) as a result/consequence; Comparative adjective

  ➔ The ""-ing form"" ("making") is used here as a present participle to indicate a result or consequence of the preceding action. ""Greener"" is a ""comparative adjective"" showing a higher degree of green.

• OH WISHING YOU THE WORST HAS NEVER REALLY WORKED

  ➔ Gerund as subject; Present Perfect (negative)

  ➔ The ""gerund"" ("wishing") acts as the subject of the sentence. The ""Present Perfect"" ("has never really worked") describes an action that started in the past and continues or has an effect up to the present, indicating it has never been effective.

• AND THINK IF YOU’RE GONE I COULD MOVE ON

  ➔ Conditional Type 1 (implied main clause); "be gone" (state); Modal "could" for possibility

  ➔ This is part of a conditional sentence. ""If you’re gone"" describes a future or hypothetical state. ""could move on"" uses the ""modal verb 'could'"" to express a possibility or ability in that hypothetical situation.